Baby bottle



March 4, 1958 s. l.. I lTzlE BABY BOTTLE Filed June l5, 1954 United States Patent n E n BABY BTTL Samuel L. Litzie, Fresno, Calif. Application June 15, 1954, Serial No'. 436,947

Claims.' (Cl. 21S-@11) This invention relates to a babys nursing bottle, and more particularly to a babys bottle which is unbreakable and shatterproo'f.

The object of the invention is to provide a babys bottle which is adapted to be made of a suitable material such as plastic whereby the bottle will not accidentally break or shatter, the bottle being easily cleaned and wherein a valve is provided for equaliing the pressure inside the bottle with the pressure on the outside of the bottle to insure a continuous flow of uid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle which can be made of plastic that may be either transparent or opaque and wherein the bottle mayr be tinted with color or may have a natural color, there being a' cap for protecting the nipple when the bottle is not in use, the nipple being easily removed and replaced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a babys bottle which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

ln the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the baby bottle, showing the cap mounted thereon for protecting'the nipple when the bottle is not being used.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3+-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view ofthe nipple.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view o'f the nipple.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectionalv View taken through a bellows-type valve.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional View of a modification wherein a conventionalV nipple'is mounted on a cap which is arranged in engagement with the neck of the b'o'ttle.

Figure 7A is a View similar to Figure 7 but 1showinga fui-ther modication;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through the bottornof the bottle showing a springetyp'e valve in place of the bellows-type valve.

f Figure 9 is a longitudinal-sectional view taken through a modified baby bottle Showing a? nipple arranged in threaded engagement with the out'er surfaceof the neck otthebottle.

Figure- 10`is a sectional View taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates in Figures 1` through 6, a baby bottle which includes'a body portion 11', Figure 2. The bottle is made ofv a suitable plastic material so that it will not break or shatter. The interior of' the' body 11l of the baby bottle is rounded or shaped arcuately as at 12 and'14 whereby the interior of the bottle can vbe readily cleaned.

The bottle 10 further includes a bottom wall-15 whichv Z is provided with a central circular threaded opening for a purpose to be later described. `The body portion 11 of l,the bottle is further provided with indicia or numbers 17, Figure l and the indicia 17 may serve to ndicate the', quantity of inilk or liquid in the bottle 10. l

A valve means is provided for equalizing the pressure inside the bottle 10 with `the pressure on the outside s o as to insure that there will be a continuous flow of milk or fluid. This valve means comprises in one form ofthe invention as shown in Figure 6 a bellows valve 18 which includes a core 19. The core 19 may have an exteriorly threaded portion 2G for threadedly engaging the uthreaded opening 16 in the bottom wall 15. A bellows 21 extends inwardly from the core 19, and the bellows 21 is ilexible and is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures 22 for the passage therethroughV of air. The apertures 22 communicate with the interior of the body member 11. The core 19 is provided with a longitudinally extending passageway or opening 23, Figure 6, whereby air can pass through the passageway 23, then into Vthe interior of the bellows 21 and then when the bellows 21 is expanded as shown in Figure 6, the air can pass out through the apertures 22 into the interior of the body member `11.

The bottoni of the bottle is recessed out as at 2'4 so as to facilitate removal and replacement of the Valve. Instead of using the bellows-type valve 18 shown in Figures 2 and 6, a spring type valve 25 can be used, and this spring type valve 25 isshown in detail in Figure 8. The valve 25 includes a collar 27 that is arranged in threaded engagement with a bushing 26 which is mounted in a centralopening in the bottom wall 15. AV plate 2S is connected to the collar 27, and portions of the plate 28 may be cut away to provide openings 29 which permit air to enter the interior of the bottle so as to equalize the pressure inside and outside the bottle. A closure member or cap't) is arranged in threaded engagement with the collar 27, and the cap 30 is provided with a central opening 31.' A plug or stopper 32 includes a finger 33 that is mounted for movement into and out of closing relation with respecttov theV opening 31. A coil spring 34 is interposed between the plate 28 and the stopper 32 for normally urg ing or biasing the linger 33 into closing relation with respect to the opening 31. The valve 25 is constructedv so that when pressure within the' body member 11A decreases sufliciently, the stopper 32 will move away from the cap 39 whereby air can pass through the opening; 31A, then through the openings 29 and into the interior of' the bottle to equaliie the pressure therein. When the" pressure has built up sufficiently'in the body member 11,

the spring 34 will again move the stopper 32to the posi'-V tion shown in Figure 8 so'that no more air will enter the b'OtlS;

Referring to Figure V7 of the drawings there is shownA1 portion 37. A cap 3S is'arranged in threaded engage' ment with thev portion 37 of the neck 36, and the cap 3%- is provided with a central opening 3,9. A nipple 4l) has a portioni surrounding the cap 3S, and the nipple 4G may be of conventional construction. The nipple 40` is provided with the usual openings 42 for the egress; therethrough of milk or fluid.

Referring again to Figures 2, 4 and 5 of they drawings, it will b'e seen' that the body 11v of the bottle 10 includes' a neck 43 on itsV upper end, and the outer surface of the neck 43 is tapered as at 44; The' interior of the neck 43 is threaded as at 45, and a'nipple 46 includes` a cylindrical sleeve 51. The sleeve 51 is provided with exterior threads 53 for engagement with" the interioi" threadedj portion 45 of the neck 43.' The nipple 4'6 is further prvided'with alongfitudinally eir'tentlir'igpassagl"` Y VWiththey plug 61 inA place.

'usedi l Wayor boref47, there being apertures 48 inY the outer end ofthe nipple for the passage therethrough kof Y or uid. For protecting the nipple 46 when the bottle `is not `Ybeing 4usedjaoap 49 ,is'provided n' The cap 49 Ailkltrludnes'inner4 beveledsurfaces .570 for snugly engaging the Yinclined.surface 440i. the neck 43. Preferably the 'projecting portion'of'thenipple 46 which has the aper- /tures '4,8; therein is flexible or pliable, whileV the `sleeve 'V51 andcollar52 ofthe'pnipple are of more rigid material.- g The 'collar5m2j is ofjagreater diameter than lthe sleeve 51;V i'lhe collar or shoulder 572 is further provided with 'rpluralityjof'notche's or cutoutsn 54 in its-*outer `periphery, Figure 5, andrfthese notches 54 provide a better gripping surface so that the nipple 46 canbe readily o' screwed intoor out of Vthe body`11 ofthe bottle; 'It is tcrbe understood that when the ibaby is to usethebottle,

Y Aremoved so that access can be had to the thecp V49 is Referring to- Figures erally bythe numeral 55., The bottle v55 isV again made linclu'desla body portion 56 that has its inner surface rounded or' curved as at 57 and 58 whereby the bottle can'be'readily cleanedm'lfhe bottle 55 further includes a bottom Wall 59- havinga central opening 60 therein, and a plug 61 may be arranged in threaded engagement with" the opening'60. The plug k61 may be used in the eventY that the valve 18 or the valve 25 becomes inop- Y erative or Worn out wherebythe bottle canstill be used Y Y The bottle 55 further includes'aneck 62 on therupper end of the body portion 9nandl10 ofthe drawings there is'shown another modified bottle Ywhich is indicated genprovide Va v 4 Y v o a straight Yhollow centerl or` bore 47 to permit easy'and thorough cleaning thereof. Notches 54'in the nipple good grip for attaching and rernovingttheV nipple. i

The bottle can be made of plastic either transparentv or opaque and` can be tinted 'or natural in colorrand can be made rigid, hard, orv semirigid and Ypliable but Vat any event it is unbreakable and shatterproof. TheV bottle can'be'either round Yor :square on the exterior Y and the interior of thev bottle is round to facilitate clean ing ofthe bottle.V The neck'43 of the' body 11Y has inte-V Y rior threadsV 45 for receiving the threadsV 53 of the nipple ot' shfatt'erproof unbreakable' plastic, and the bottle 55 56,-'and the/neckV 62 may be threadedrexteriorly. A

nippler63 has a portion64 threaded interiorly for'engagement withthe Vthreaded portion of the neck .62. The nipple 63 is provided with the usual openings 65, and the-neck'of the bottle may be provided with inclined surfaces 66 which are adapted to be engaged'by the beveledisurfaces 50'of the cap V49. YAgain the cap 49 isY used to' protect the nipple 63 when the bottle' is not being 'YIh'e may be made of any suitable material such asplastrc or rubber and thebottle Vis made ofV a heat reslstant'material. The bellows valve 18 may also be made'ofygrlrbberV orV plastic. The bottle may Yhave any` desired 'size-and shape and for example the Ybottlemay.

have a rectangulzrarV shape or else it may have a Vcylinducal coniguratlon. `The various parts of the valve 25 may be made of stainless steel whereby corrosion thereofY wllllz'eV prevented. The cap 38 shown in Figure 7 permits a conventional nipple 470v to Vbe mounted `on aV plastic baby bottle `35, s1nce the lower'portion of the nipple 40 can be stretched over thecap 38 Vto be held properlyV inplace. flhe plug 61 can be used in the event that the valves'get out `of order'whe'rebyY the bottle will kstillpermitjmrlkto be withdrawn therefrom. VThe cap 49VV can be made ofplastieV andV mayV either be transparent or 46'and the bottom of the bottle will/,eitherreceive the bellows valve 18 vor the springfvalve 25; Or, theY plug 61 can be arranged in engagement withrthe opening in the bottom of the bottle.Y The bottle canV also be made Y t with a plain'bottom. The calibrations 17 on the bottle `'permita Visual observation kof t'herquantityofjfluid inY the bottle. Y The bellowsk valve'181eanrbemade ofrubf ber or plastic and the springfvalve 25 Can be made Vof Y stainless steel or plastic.V The plug 61 can be maderof stainless steel or plastic. The nipple 63V has threads onY the inside forrengagement with the exteriorly threaded neck 62 of the bottle 55. The plastic will Iwithstand heat and cold. The bellows valve 18 or the spring valve 25 serve to equalize the pressure inside the bottle' with. Y

the pressure on the outside of the bottle to insure a continuous flow of uid and to Vpnevent the bottle* from collapsing. o I v Y Y Y y It is to be understood` that the'plastic isf'also acid resistant. 'Y

Y In use when milk and air are drawn out of the bottle by the baby, aV partial vacuum or low pressure is created Y which willdraw the top portion ,ofV the bellows valve opaque'or it maybe tinted with color or it canhave Y the cap can be readily removed byturning it slightly and then pulling it up. The nipple for Vthe nursing unit canbemade ofk rubber, Ysynthetic rubber, orv plastic such as glycerin base and the nipple in FiguresV 2, `4 and 5 has outside threads 53 to t inside the bottle. 'The portion of the nipplerwhich enters Ythe babys mouth is soft and pliable similar to a conventional nipple,'.while"the base ofthe nipple including the portions'51`and 52 is thickerand harder in order to maintain its shape and Ytcrirrsure a tightrt of the nipple.. Thenipple has .us`e, a eapsuch as theiap V18 up tothe. positionjshown in Figure 6. At the saline"Y Y i time-atmospheric pressure from outside the bottleforces the air into the opening 23 and into the bellows 21 and `then through the small holes 22 to allow outsideV air into the bottle. Y This action equalizes theY pressure inside fV the bottle to Vkeep the bottle ,from collapsing andto keep.

Va jcontinuous` ow of milk to the baby. This also is a When pressure is equalized the `belcolic preventative.

closedrposition shutting 'off outlows valve returns to a side air. Y

i 'Iihe spring valve 25 has the cap' 30 'which ycan be easlly.

removed for cleaningV and Vthe valve V25 permits air to Y Venter the' bottle under the same principle as the bellows valve. consumes milk from the bottle, and When thepressure inside the'bottle decreases, the atmospheric pressure out-V side forces the rubber stopper Y32and spring 34 to contract to thus allow air into the'bjottlerthrough the holes 29.V j When sufficient air has entered the bottleto egualize Y thepressure,theten sion spring 34 expands closing the t opening Yitpwith the stopper l32 towshutof the-*outsider the baby. Y

It is to be understoodV that Vthe details foi?Y construction air so that there willrbe a continuous owrof to `of the various'parts of theV bottle may be Yaltered without o departing from the spirit of the invention and within the.'Y Y

scope of thel appended claims.V

Y Referring to Figure 7A of the/drawingsghereis shown Y Y aV further 'modicationzwhereinf a conventional nipple Y66f`l is mountedfonthe vbottle 35 ,by means offa collar 67 which is arranged in threaded engagement with'the threadf Infother words'Figure 7A shows Va standard or Vconventionalnip- A pleV assembly being used'on the bottle.

avepullfoyer type of nipple 40V being used, while Figurev Y 7A showsa nipple V66V which is held in place by meansof ed portion 37 of the neck 36 of the bottle.

the Vcollar67. 4lil'lrtherrnorefthe bottles 35'and 55 are interchangeable and either the nipple 63 ora conven' tional nipple may be used. When the bottle is not in Yaiolls nipples, y

The pressure in the bottle decreases as the Vbaby'fy Figure 7. showsV 29may .be Varranged over/the I. In ay babys bottle, a. body portion having indicia thereon, the inner portions ofY said bo'ttle being sliaped arcuately,.said bottle includingY a bottom wall having an outer recess, there being a central opening in said bottom wall, a valve arranged in engagement with said opening, a neck on the upper end of said bottle, a' nipple arranged in engagement with said neck, said bottle being made of unbreakable'shatterproof plastic, the outer surface of said neck being inclined, and a cap surrounding said nipple and including inner beveled surfaces releasably engaging the inclined surface of said neck, said nipple comprising a cylindrical sleeve provided with exterior threads, the inner surface of said neck being threaded for engagement by said threaded sleeve, an annular shoulder on said nipple of greater diameter than said sleeve abutting the top of said neck, a mouth engaging portion projecting from said shoulder and provided with openings therein for the egress therethrough of liquid, said mouth engaging portion being flexible, said shoulder being provided with a plurality of notches in its outer periphery for facilitating manual rotation of the nipple, said valve comprising a core arranged in engagement with the opening in said bottom wall, there being a longitudinally extending passageway in said core, said core having threads on its outer surface, and a bellows extending from said core and including a plurality of folds having apertures therein.

2. A babys bottle, comprising a body portion provided with indicia arranged along a portion of its outer surface, the inner portions of said bottle being shaped arcuately whereby the bottle may be readily cleaned, said bottle including a bottom wall having an outer frusto-conical recess, there being a central opening in said bottom wall, a valve arranged in engagement with said opening, a neck on the upper end of said bottle, a nipple arranged in engagement with said neck, said bottle being made of unbreakable shaterproof acid resistant plastic, the outer surface of said neck being inclined whereby the top of said neck is of less diameter than the bottom thereof, and a hollow cap surrounding said nipple and including inner lower beveled surfaces releasably engaging the inclined surface of said neck, said bottle and cap having the same outside diameter, said cap being made of unbreakable shatterproof material, said nipple comprising a cylindrical sleeve provided with exterior threads, the inner surface of said neck being threaded for engagement by said threaded sleeve, an annular shoulder on said nipple of greater diameter than said sleeve abutting the top of said neck, a mouth engaging portion projecting from said shoulder and provided with openings therein for the egress therethrough of liquid, said mouth engaging portion being soft and flexible, said shoulder being provided with a plurality of radially spaced apart notches in its outer periphery for facilitating manual rotation of the nipple, said valve comprising a core arranged in engagement with the opening in said bottom wall, there being a longitudinally extending passageway in said core, said core having threads on its outer surface, and a bellows extending from said core and including a plurality of folds having apertures therein, said bellows being arranged at the upper end of said valve, said valve serving to equalize the pressure inside the bottle with the pressure on the outside of the bottle to insure a continuous flow of fluid and to prevent the bottle from collapsing, and wherein when pressure is equalized the bellows valve returns to a closed position shutting oi outside air.

3. A babys bottle, comprising a body portion provided with indicia arranged along a portion of its outer surface, the inner portions of said bottle being shaped are cuately whereby the bottle may be readily cleaned, said bottle including a bottom wall having an outer frusto-conical recess, there being a central opening in said bottom wall, a valve arranged in engagement with said opening, a

neck on' the upper' end ofsaid bottle, fnip'ple arrangd in engagement withV said neck, saidi bottle' being niad of unbreakable shatterproof acid resistant plastic, th'eoufer surface of said neck being inclined whereby the top of said neck is of less diameter than' thelottom thereof, and a hollow cap surrounding said nipple andV including inner iower beveled surfaces releasably engaging, the in clin'ed surface of said neck, said bottle and cap having the same outside diameter, said cap being made of unbreakable shatterproof material, said nipple comprising a cylindrical sleeve provided with exterior threads, the inner surface of said neck being threaded for engagement by said threaded sleeve, an annular shoulder on said nipple of greater diameter than said sleeve abutting the top of said neck, a mouth engaging portion projecting from said shoulder and provided with openings therein for the egress therethrough of liquid, said mouth engaging portion being soft and iiexible, said shoulder being provided with a plurality of radially spaced apart notches in its outer periphery for facilitating manual rotation of the nipple, said valve comprising a core arranged in engagement with the opening in said bottom wall, there being a longitudinally extending passageway in said core, said core having threads on its outer surface, and a bellows extending from said core and including a plurality of folds having apertures therein, said bellows being arranged at the upper end of said valve, said valve serving to equalize the pressure inside the bottle with the pressure on the outside or" the bottle to insure a continuous flow of iluid and to prevent the bottle from collapsing, and wherein when pressure is equalized the bellows valve returns to a closed position shutting off outside air, said mouth engaging portion being soft and exible, said shoulder being provided with a plurality of radially spaced apart notches in its outer periphery for facilitating manual rotation of the nipple.

4. A babys bottle, comprising a body portion having indicia arranged along a portion of its outer surface, the inner portions of said baby bottle being shaped arcuately whereby the bottle may be readily cleaned, said bottle including a bottom wall having an outer frusto-conical recess, there being a central opening in said bottom wall, a valve arranged in engagement with said opening, a neck on the upper end of said bottle, a nipple arranged in engagement with said neck, said bottle being made of un break ble shatterproof acid resistant plastic, a hollow cap surrounding said nipple, said valve comprising a core arranged in engagement with the opening in said bottom wall, there being a longitudinally extending passageway in said core, said core having threads on its outer surface, and a bellows extending from said core 'and including a plurality of folds having apertures therein, said bellows being arranged at the upper end of said valve, said valve serving to equalize the pressure inside the bottle with lthe pressure on the -outside of the bottle to insure a continuous flow of huid and to prevent the bottle from collapsing, and wherein when pressure is equalized the bellows valve returns to a Iclosed position shutting off outside air.

5. A babys bottle, comprising a body portion having indicia thereon, the inner portions of said baby bottle being shaped arcuately whereby the bottle may be readily cleaned, said bottle including a bottom wall having an outer recess, there being an opening in said bottom wall, a valve arranged in engagement with said opening, a neck on said bottle, a nipple arranged in engagement with said neck, said bottle being made of unbreakable shatterproof acid resistant plastic, a cap surrounding said nipple, said valve comprising a core arranged in engagement with the opening in said bottom wall, there being a passageway in said core, said ycore having threads on its Outer Surface, and a bellows extending from said core and including folds having apertures therein, said valve serving to equalize the pressure inside the bottle with the pressure on the outside of the bottle to insure a continuous 'owf'of ud 'nd to'prevent. the `bottle from collapsing,

Yand wherein when pressure is equalized the bellows valve V-retums `to closod position shutting o outside air.

4 Yllel'encrzos,Crterdf'in tbe file of VIthis potent VV'UNITED STATES pATENTsA Y VODette June 2,*,1936

Maccoy Jun..15,-1937 

